Apparatus for making briquettes



. 1.946- A. J. LANGHAMMER 2,411,379

APPARATUS FOR MAKING BRIQUETTES Filed 00%,. 20, 1941 fl.ii I lNvENTbRANTHONY a. LHNGH/IMMER E- BY fdzzfiw.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 19, 1946 umrap s raras PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR MAKINGBRIQUETTES Anthony J. Langhammer, Detroit, Mich., assign- I or toChrysler Corporation, Highland Park, Mich., a corporation of DelawareApplication October 20, 1941, Serial No. 415,114

This invention relates to an improved apparatus and method for'makingbriquettes from powdered metal materials.

More specifically, the invention pertains to an apparatus and method ofthis kind which is particularly adapted for producing briquettes of theabove character which have a body portion of substantially uniform crosssection and a tapered portion such as a body portion and ogive of aprojectile.

One of the main objects of the invention is the provision of anapparatus and method of this kind which during compression of a chargeof powdered metal particles into a briquette of pointed or conical endshape, subjects the particles of powdered metal in the pointed end andadjacent parts to substantially the same particle orientation shiftingmovement as that to which the powdered metal of the remaining portion ofthe article is subjected.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a briquettingapparatus and method of this kind which produces powdered metalbriquettes of varying cross section that are substantially uniform indensity throughout and which, when sintered, have uniform structuralstrength.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for ejectingtapered briquettes of this kind from the dies in which they are formedby engagement with the base ends of the latter in order to safeguard thetapered or pointed ends thereof from injury.

A still further object of the invention is to control the compression towhich the powdered metal charge is subjected in the tapered end formingportions of the dies as to guard against sticking or binding of thetapered end portions in the dies and consequently breaking of thebriquette during separation thereof from the dies.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of die forming apparatusembodying the invention illustrating the parts thereof in position tocommence a briquette forming operation.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1illustrating the parts thereof in the final briquette compressing stage.I

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of die formingapparatus embodying the invention and illustratin one form of mechanismby which the die parts may be operated.

The apparatus and method embodying the invention is adapted for use informing articles of diverse shapes and may be employed to advantage inthe forming of powdered metal briquettes which have a body portion ofcylindrical or other uniform cross section and a tapered or conical endportion. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shownin the drawing, the application of the apparatus and method to the 7Claims. (Cl. 78--0.5)

forming of projectiles of the type which have a cylindrical body portionand a tapered ogive. Projectile briquettes formed in accordance with theinvention may be sintered in a non-oxidizing or reducing atmosphere andbrought to final desired dimensions and contour in a suitable sizingoperation such as that illustrated in United States Patent No. 2,226,002issued to A. J. Langhammer on December 24, 1940. The powdered metalcharge may comprise particles of a single powdered metal or a mixture ofmetal particles such as tin and copper.

In operating upon particles of powdered metal to bring them to compactbriquette form, it is desirable to have the particles of metal at allpositions in the charge undergo substantially the same amount ofmovement relative to the die structure or an amount of movement relativethereto of substantially the same order. This movement of the particlesrelative to the die parts during compression of a charge produces aparticle orientation which facilitates compression into a densestructure. If, for example, one portion of a charge is held at restwhile compression is applied at one extremity of the charge, theparticles of metal at the extremity of the charge upon which compressionwas applied shift relative to the die substantially more than theparticles of metal at the extremity of the charge which was held at restand as a result, the particles of metal which moved relative to the dieunderwent orientation which the particles of metal which were held atrest were not subjected to. It is found that the parts of the compressedproduct comprising particles which were permitted to orient themselvesduring compression have a substantially greater density than the portionof the resulting briquette comprising particles which were held at rest.

With the improved briquette forming apparatus and method, all theparticles of the charge are shifted relative to the die during thecompressing operation sufliciently uniformly to produce a. briquette ofsubstantially uniform density throughout. This is accomplished even inthe formation of briquettes having body portions of substantiallyuniform cross section and tapered ends.

The apparatus comprises a support l0 having a bore II and a coaxialcounterbore I2 of larger diameter than the bore ll. Slidably mounted inthe bore II is a tubular die part l3 which has a radially extendingflange I4 adapted to seat against a shoulder l5 disposed between th boreII and the counterbore I2. The tubular die part I3 has a cylindricalpassage I6 extending therethrough which is adapted to receive a chargeI! of powdered metal. The tubular die I 3 is normally urged to its upperlimiting position established by abutment of the flange l4 against theshoulder l5, as viewed in Fig. 1, by a coil spring the upper end portionof the bore l I.

. 3 l3 which bears against the flange i4 and a shoulder is provided on asleeve 23 which is threaded in the lower end portion of the counterborel2. The upper extremity 2| of the sleeve is adapted to abut the lowerside of the flange l4 of the die part l3 to establish the lower limitingposition of the tubular die part l3, as illustrated in Fig. 2. Thesleeve 23 may be set in a selected position by tightening a set screw 22threaded in an aperture formed in the neck portion 23 depending from thesupport t3. A plunger, generally designated by the numeral 24, isdisposed below the support III in axial alignment with the passage I3 ofthe tubular die part l3. The ram 24 has a stem portion 25 which extendsinto the lower end portion of the passage l3 of thedie part l3 inrelatively close fitting relationship with respect to the walls thereof.The stem 25 serves to establish the depth of charg of powdered metalwhich'is receivable in the upper end portion of passage, l3 in the dieI3. This stem also serves, as hereinafter more clearly set forth, toeject the charge after compression thereof.

Disposed above the support ill in axial alignment with the bore I lthereof is a ram 23 having a die part 21 on its lower extremity providedwith a tapered closed end cavity 23- The die part 21 is adapted toengage the upper extremity of the shiftable tubular die part i3 when theram is -forced downwardly by -mechanism hereinafter has been filled witha charge of powdered metal or other powdered material, the ram 23 isforced downwardly to bring the die part 21 thereof into Durin thismovement of the ram, the tubular die part I3 is forced downwardlyagainst the action of the spring i3 and the stem 25 of the plunger 24 isheld at rest so as to produce relative movement between all portions ofthe charge l1 and the walls of the passage l3 and to displace some ofthe particles powdered material at the upper end of the charge l1 fromthe passage l3 into cavity 23. Further downward movement of the ram 23causes the powdered'charge to be compressed to a desired degreedepending upon the extent to which the tubular die part I3 is urgeddownwardly "upward movement of the tubular die part 13 and after thelatter has reached its upper limiting position, the stem 25 is thrustupwardly relatively to the tubular die part l3 in order to eject thefinished briquette from the passage I 3.

The ram 23 and plunger 24 may be operated by any suitable coining pressmechanism, an example of which is illustratedin Fig. 3. In this form ofcoining press construction, a cam memand 33 are so constructed andarranged as to prodownwardly while the plunger 24 remains at rest 5during contact thereof with a constant radius portion of the cam38.After the ram 23 has completed its full compression stroke, the cam 33withdraws it. At the same time, the cam 33 commences to urgethe plunger24 upwardly.

During the operation of the foregoing briquette forming apparatus andmethod, substantially all portions of the particles of metal of thecharge are subjected to orientation by movement with respect to the diepart in which they are con- 5 tained. A tapered end is formed onthebriquette without a significant variation in density at the taperedand base end portions of the briquette.

Even-more important is thefact that the density.

the particles past the plane at which the ex-- tremity 29 of the diepart 21 engages the upper extremity of the tubular die IS. The resultingbriquette is ejected from the tubular die part i3 by pressing upon itsbase end portion rather than its tapered end portion in order to avoidthe ap- 5 plieation of excessively high unit pressure on the relativelypointed extremity of the briquette.

Although but one specific embodiment of the invention is herein shownand described. it is to be understood that various changes in the size,40 shape and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from thespirit of the inven-. tion.

' What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for briquetting articles from powdered metal including asupport, a tubular die part having a passage therethrough shiftablymounted on said support; means for yieldably urging said tubular diepart upwardly, a ram provided with a die part having a surface directlyengageable with said tubular die part for positively shifting the latteragainst the action of said means and having a closed end cavityregisterable with the passage oflsaid tubular die part, a plunger memberextending into the lower end portion of said tubulardie part normallypredetermining the depth of charge of powdered metal receivable in theupper end portion of said passage and adapted to displace a portion ofsaid charge from said passage into said closed end cavity during initialmovement of said tubular die part relative to said plunger under theaction of said ram and to compress said entire charge into a briquetteduring further movement of said ram. 7 2. Apparatus for briquettingarticles from powdered metal including a support, a tubular die parthaving a passage therethrough shiftably mounted on said support,resilient means coacting between said support and said tubular die partand yieldably urging the latter upwardly,

a ram provided with a die part having a surface directly engageable withsaid tubular die part for positively shifting it against'the action ofsaid means and having a closed end cavity registerable with the passageof the latter, a plungbriquette during further movement of said ram,

said plunger member being shiftable relative to said support and tubulardie part after withdrawal of said ram for ejecting the resultingbriquette from said tubular die part.

3. Apparatus for briquetting from powdered metal articles having aportion of uniform cross section and a portion varying in cross sectionat successive increments of its length including a support, a tubulardie part having a passage therethrough comprising an upper section ofuniform cross section, means for yieldingly urging said tubular die partoutwardly with respect to said support, a ram provided with a die parthaving a surface directly engageable with said tubular die part forpositively shifting the latter against the action of said means duringthe initial effective portion of the stroke of said ram and having aclosed end cavity registerable with the passage of said tubular die partand varying incross section at successive increments of its,

said passage into said closed end cavity during,

initial movement of said tubular die part relative to said plunger underthe action of said ram and to compress said entire charge into abriquette during further movement of said ram.

4. Apparatus for briquetting from powdered metal articles having aportion of uniform cross section and a portion of tapering shapeincluding a support, a tubular die part having a passage therethroughcomprising an upper section of uniform cross section, means foryieldingly urging said tubular. die part outwardly with respect to saidsupport, a ram having a die partengageable with the outer extremity ofsaid tubular die part for positively shifting said tubular die partagainst the action of said means and provided with a tapered closed endcavity registerable with the passage of the latter, a plunger memberextending into the lower end portion of said tubular die part normallypredetermining the depth of charge of powdered metal receivable in theupper end portion of said passage and adapted to displace a portion ofsaid charge from said passage into said closed end cavity during initialmovement of said tubular die part relative to said plunger under theaction of said ram and to compress said entire charge into a briquetteduring further relative movement of said ram and plunger, said plungermember being shiftable relative to said tubular die part for ejectingsaid briquette by engagement with the end thereof opposite from itstapered extremity after compression of said charge.

5. Apparatus for briquetting articles from powdered metal including asupport, a tubular of said tubular die part, means for yieldablyurgagainst the action of said resilient means, said ram having a diepart provided with an extremity for seating against the outer extremityof said tubular die part and having a closed end cavity registerablewith the passage of the latter, a plunger member extending into the endportion of said tubular die part adjacent the opposite extremitythereof, said plunger having a close fitting relationship with respectto the walls of said passage and being adapted to predetermine the depthof charge of powdered metal receivable in the portion of said passageunoccupied by it, means for forcing said ram against said tubular diepart in order to shift the latter relative to said plunger member in onedirection so as to 'nitially displace a portion of said charge from saidpassage into said closed end cavity of the die part of said ram and tosubsequently compress said charge to a predetermined density, and meansfor shifting said plunger in the opposite direction relative to diepartfhaving a passage therethrough shift- 1 said tubular member forejecting the resulting compressed charge therefrom.

6. Apparatus for forming from powdered metal a projectile shapedbriquette having a cylindrical body portion and a tapered ogiveincluding a support, a tubular die part axially shiftably mounted onsaid support having a passage for receiving a powdered metal charge andwhich is adapted to form the body portion of said briquette, a shiftableram having a die part directly engageable with said tubular die part forpositively shifting the latter independently of said powdered metalcharge and provided with a tapered closed end cavity registerable withsaid passage for forming the ogive, mechanism for forcing said ramagainst said tubular die part to shift the latter axially, and meansextending into the passage of said tubular die part for holding saidcharge against movement with the latter in order to initially displace aportion of said charge from said passage into said cavity and tothereafter compress said charge to a predetermined density duringmovement of said tubular die part by said ram.

7. Apparatus for forming from powdered metal a projectile shapedbriquette having a cylindrical body portion and a tapered ogiveincluding a support, a tubular die part axially shiftably mounted onsaid support having a passage for receiving a powdered metal charge andwhich is adapted to form the body portion of said briquette, a shiftableram having a die part engageable with an closed end cavity registerablewith said passage for forming the ogive, mechanism for forcing said ramagainst said tubular die part to shift the latter axially, a shiftableplunger extending into the end of said passage opposite from said ramfor holding said charge against movement with the latter in order toinitially displace a portion of said charge from said passage into saidcavity and to thereafter compress said charge to a predeter- ANTHONY J.LANG

